Features

SHRIVER NAMED TO USL TEAM OF THE WEEK

RICHMOND, VA – (Tuesday, April 3, 2018) – The United Soccer League (USL) announced on Tuesday that Richmond Kickers Forward Brian Shriver was named to the USL Team of the Week for Week 3. Shriver recorded his second assist this year as the Kickers claimed their first victory of the 2018 season over North Carolina FC last Saturday night.

Shriver is in his first season with the Kickers, having made three starts in all three matches for Richmond this season. He has assisted on two of three goals this year including the game winner over NCFC, while also drawing the penalty that lead to the first goal in that same match. The Clearwater, FL native joins the Kickers after making 11 appearances with the Jacksonville Armada following a midseason trade in 2017.

The Kickers will close out their three-match home stand next Saturday night as they host New York Red Bulls II and the I Heart Carytown Craft Beer Festival. The gates open at 3:00 p.m. with live music by Pretty Ugly, a mini-Carytown marketplace featuring locally-owned restaurants, food trucks and handcrafted items from Carytown boutiques, 20+ craft beers on tap and the Kickers pro game versus New York Red Bulls II at 5:00 p.m. to showcase why Carytown is the best place to Eat, Shop and Play. Tickets are available now at www.richmondkickers.com.

USL TEAM OF THE WEEK

GK – Evan Newton, FC Cincinnati: Newton posted a six-save shutout, including a double-save on a penalty kick and rebound, to lead FCC to a 1-0 road win against Indy Eleven.

D – Kalen Ryden, Real Monarchs SLC: Ryden scored twice on four total shots on goal to lead the Monarchs to a 4-2 victory against the Portland Timbers 2.

D – Sean Reynolds, Saint Louis FC: Reynolds made a game-saving challenge to deny a chance to Colorado Springs’ Saeed Robinson and completed 61 of 66 passes as STLFC earned a 1-0 win against the Switchbacks.

D – Joel Huiqui, Las Vegas Lights FC: Huiqui recorded three interceptions and seven clearances while marshaling the Lights FC defense as it held Swope Park to only three shots on goal in a 2-1 victory for Las Vegas.

M – Todd Wharton, Rio Grande Valley FC: Wharton scored the opening goal, recorded two key passes and three tackles and completed 30 of 33 passes in the Toros’ 2-2 draw with Sacramento.

M – Brian Shriver, Richmond Kickers: Shriver provided the assist on the Kickers’ game-winning goal against North Carolina and was influential throughout the game in the attacking third.

M – Paolo DelPiccolo, Louisville City FC: DelPiccolo recorded three key passes, including the assist on Oscar Jimenez’s game-winner, won seven of 11 duels overall and linked play well through the midfield.

M – Amando Moreno, New York Red Bulls II: Moreno notched a pair of goals on five total shots and completed 21 of 26 passes in New York’s romp past Charleston.

F – Juan Pablo Caffa, Fresno FC: Caffa scored once, completed 76 of 91 passes and recorded five key passes as the Foxes took victories against both Seattle Sounders FC 2 and OKC Energy FC.

F – Jorge Herrera, Charlotte Independence: Herrera scored twice as the Independence rallied on two occasions to earn a 2-2 draw with ATL UTD 2 to remain undefeated to start the season.

VIDEO: 1995 U.S. OPEN CUP FINAL

The Richmond Kickers won the prestigious 1995 U.S. Open Cup Final Sunday, August 27, 1995 in El Paso, TX. Kickers legend Rob Ukrop gave the Kickers the lead in the 50th minute to go up 1-0, assisted by current Kickers head coach and Director of Soccer, Leigh Cowlishaw. El Paso tied the game up with just 10 minutes remaining in regulation. After extra time, the final was decided on penalties, with the Kickers coming out victorious, 4-2.

Relive the entire 1995 U.S. Open Cup final here:

YOU ASK. WE ANSWER.

Leigh Cowlishaw is taking over @RichmondKickers on Twitter on Monday, February 5 at 10:00am to answer your questions about the upcoming 2018 season. Use the hashtag #AskCowlishaw and he will answer questions from how the team is looking heading into preseason, the USL and the new competition in 2018, and anything about RVA.

Entering his 18th season at the helm, Cowlishaw has amassed an overall record of 271-147-125. Under his guidance, the Kickers have qualified for postseason play 15 times, reaching the title match six times (2002, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009 and 2010) while earning the Regular Season Championship title on four occasions (2001, 2006, 2007 and 2013) and claiming the league crown twice (2006 and 2009).

Having also achieved significant success in the U.S. Open Cup, he won the tournament title as a player in 1995 and has since led the team to four quarterfinal appearances (2001, 2004, 2007, 2011) and a remarkable semifinal finish in 2011, ousting five Major League Soccer teams along the way. A member of the USL Hall of Fame and 2013 USL Coach of the Year, Cowlishaw’s success on the field is matched by numerous awards off the field, helping to guide the club to five USL Organization of the Year awards (1995, 2000, 2006, 2007, 2009).

FALL FAVORITES

The Richmond Kickers U16 Girls South claimed the Superior Division Championship title at last weekend’s Capital Fall Classic in dramatic fashion, outlasting a penalty kick shootout in near darkness against Alliance SC Premier.

Goalkeeper Sarah Cundiff and an unbeatable defense posted four consecutive clean sheets on the weekend in victories over Loudoun 96 Black (4-0), Monticello United Flames Red (3-0) and Stafford Area Revolution 96 (2-0) before Cundiff made a heroic penalty save in the final.

Meanwhile, the Kickers U10 Girls South cliniched the Classic Division crown after boasting an undefeated record at the Capital Fall Classic. Kicking off tournament play with a 1-1 tie against the FC Richmond Mystx, the girls went on to tally seven goals, conceding just two en route to a Championship re-match against their crosstown rivals, this time shutting out FC Richmond, 2-0.

Congratulations girls great team efforts!

GIRL POWER: CAPITAL FALL CLASSIC

The Richmond Kickers U11 Girls South Destiny closed out an undefeated regular season with a stellar performance at last weekend’s Capital Fall Classic. The girls battled Virginia Legacy U11 Phoenix to a 2-2 draw to open the tournament before storming to a 5-1 win over Beach FC U11 Black and a 4-1 win over Freedom Blast Red from Maryland to earn their spot in the title match on Sunday. The Kickers prevailed in a hard fought Championship match to edge SYA Cardinals 1-0 for their second tournament crown this season, having also earned top honors in the Columbus Day tournament last month.

Meanwhile, the Kickers U10 Girls Elite Red finished at the top of the Premier Bracket at the Capital Fall Classic, going undefeated on the weekend with 21 goals for and just seven goals against. After taking victories over Beach FC 03 Galaxy and SYA Cardinals 03 Red on Saturday, the Kickers downed Chesterfield United 03 ASL Jr Academy Sunday before taking on Richmond Strikers Morgan in the final. The back and forth affair against the team’s cross-town rivals resulted in a 2-1 win and Champinship crown for the Kickers.

The Kickers U11 Girls Elite White Flash also produced an outstanding undefeated weekend at the Capital Fall Classic to finish as Runners Up in the Superior Bracket. Opening the weekend with a 4-0 win over Richmond Strikers O’Reilly and a 1-1 draw against SYA Cardinals 03 White, the Kickers edged Premier AC 03 Gold 1-0 in their final match on Sunday.

Kickers Success Mirrors USL Growth

RICHMOND, VA — (Friday, November 10, 2017) — President of the United Soccer League (USL), Jake Edwards held a conference call Friday afternoon to speak of the achievements of the league following the 2017 season and ahead of the 2017 USL Cup Final Monday night between Louisville City FC and Swope Park Rangers live on ESPNU.

Edwards first remarked on the growth of attendance across the league, which saw a 36% increase over the 2016 season. The Kickers have seen a similar increase in attendance, averaging 4,665 in 2017 which eclipsed the previous record of 4,029 set in 2016 and breaking the record overall for a fourth consecutive season. Since 2013, City Stadium has seen a 76% increase in attendance as the Kickers sit in the Top 10 for attendance in the 30-team USL.

The league as whole has also seen an increase in sponsorship as the 2017 season saw a 50% increase in sponsorship revenue over the 2016 season. Following the trend, the Kickers have seen a 25% increase in sponsorship revenue this season, along with a 35% increase in ticket sales.

League exposure is at an all-time high for the USL with the creation of USL Productions, a $10 million investment by the league in partnership with Vista Worldlink to standardize television production. With league games airing on national outlets such as ESPNU, ESPN3, and SiriusXM, the USL also saw many local markets building their own local television deals. The Kickers announced a landmark television deal in 2017 with WTVR CBS 6, which brought 17 home and away games to television in the Richmond metro area and named CBS 6 the Exclusive Television Partners of the Kickers. Three of the 17 televised matches were shown on the main 6.1 channel.

Experience the passion, excitement and authentic atmosphere at City Stadium when the Richmond Kickers 2018 season kicks off this spring. Richmond Kickers Season Ticket Benefits include 45-60% off match day prices, exclusive invitations, merchandise discounts and VIP benefits. Guaranteed to see all regular season, US Open Cup and playoff games for the best possible pricing, Kickers Season Tickets are a fantastic way to get together with friends, family and colleagues for an unforgettable experience – order now at www.richmondkickers.com.

Team Fines Benefit Local Causes

RICHMOND, VA – (Friday, October 13, 2017) – Moving away from tradition, the Richmond Kickers pro team decided to donate all fines collected throughout the 2017 season to two local outreach initiatives, RVAccess and #CatherinesFight. The team is proud to make a donation of $1,000, comprised of team fines and donations made by players and staff, in support of these two worthy causes.

“On behalf of the entire team, we are proud to support two incredible programs such as RVAccess and #CatherinesFight,” commented William Yomby, Richmond Kickers veteran defender and team captain. “Catherine is an inspiration to all of us. She is capable of amazing things and we are looking forward to seeing her back on the soccer field soon.”

“Catherine, you’ve got this, continued Yomby. “We do not know what the last few months have been like for you, but we as a team are with you in this brave fight. Stay strong and keep battling.”

“RVAaccess is an inspirational program that allows everyone to enjoy the beautiful game as much as we do,” added Yomby. “Knowing that we can continue to help put smiles on kids’ faces is the ultimate reward for all of us.”

RVAccess is a program designed to offer children, ages 4-19, with physical and mental disabilities the opportunity to experience the gratification and excitement of soccer. Through the generous support of private donors, RVAccess is a cost-free program with sessions tailored to individual needs ranging from fun activities to small-sided games. Athletes are paired with volunteer Buddies to learn soccer skills in a fun and supportive group environment. To register as an athlete for RVAccess or for information on volunteering or contributing, visit www.richmondkickers.com/RVAccess.

#CatherinesFight is a community initiative established to support Richmond Kickers U13 Elite player, Catherine Muir, who was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia on July 26th. Following an initial treatment of aggressive chemotherapy, Catherine will undergo an additional 6-9 months of intermittent chemotherapy, requiring hospitalization, followed by another year or more of maintenance treatments. In an effort to offset growing medical costs, while also supporting Catherine’s three sisters, friends of the Muir family set up a Go FundMe page to collect donations.

Kickers Smash Attendance Record

RICHMOND, VA – (Thursday, October 12, 2017) – The Richmond Kickers are proud to announce that the club set a new average attendance record for the fourth consecutive season, averaging 4,665 fans per game. Surpassing last year’s then-record high of 4,029, the new record represents a 76% increase since 2013. The Kickers attendance currently ranks in the USL Top 10 of the 30-team league.

“To our fantastic fans, THANK YOU,” commented Leigh Cowlishaw, Richmond Kickers Director of Soccer. “You made our 25th Anniversary season one to remember. Your support for the Kickers transcends the sport of soccer and serves as a catalyst for growth for the entire city. Because of you, there is no better atmosphere in Richmond than a packed City Stadium and we strongly believe the Kickers have reached a pivotal point in our history.”

Highlights from the club’s Silver Anniversary season include breaking the single-game regular season record with 8,021 fans at the home opener in March, besting that attendance with the fourth consecutive English Premier League exhibition in July. The 2017 season also marked landmark achievements in broadcasting as the club inked its first-ever television deal with WTVR CBS 6 airing 17 live games, as well as set new club records in ticket sales, sponsorship and merchandising.

Additionally, the Kickers were unanimously approved for a 40-year lease at City Stadium, the historic 1920’s venue that the club has called home for more than two decades. The terms of the agreement will see the Kickers make approximately $20 million in upgrades over the life of the lease to revitalize City Stadium for the city, surrounding neighborhood, fans and community.

The Kickers are committed to building on the momentum from the 2017 season, setting their sights on 2018, with goals that include:

Reaching an unprecedented 100,000 fans through the gate
Unveiling a City Stadium Revitalization Plan that includes implementing Phase I improvements in 2018
Securing a premier City Stadium naming rights partner
Reaching a goal of 2,500 season ticket holders
Bringing high profile exhibitions to City Stadium, including a Women’s Professional match for the first time
Returning to the USL Playoffs

“We are focused on being the number one sports experience in RVA,” continued Cowlishaw. “We promise to deliver an authentic soccer experience with exceptional entertainment value to our phenomenal fanbase, while uniting the community at a revitalized City Stadium.”

U17 World Cup Kicks off Friday

RICHMOND, VA – (Thursday, October 5, 2017) – Former Richmond Kickers Youth Soccer Club midfielder Chris Durkin is set to represent the United States on the world stage when the FIFA U17 World Cup kicks off this week in India.

Following a seven-day training camp in Dubai, the 21-player U17 squad arrived in New Delhi earlier this week ahead of their opening match against hosts India on Friday, October 6. The team’s other Group A matches will take place on October 9 against Ghana and October 12 against Colombia. The first two games will be played at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi, while the final group game will be played at Dr. DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai. All of the U.S.’s group matches will be broadcast live on FS2 and UNIVERSO.

Returning to Richmond on loan in 2017 for 11 matches, Durkin signed a Homegrown Contract with the Kickers’ official MLS affiliate, D.C. United, last year, becoming the youngest Homegrown Player in club history. He made his first team debut as a 16-year old when he started United’s U.S. Open Cup Fourth Round match in June, going on to make three appearances with the Kickers in 2016

A native of Glen Allen, Virginia, Durkin joined the Richmond Kickers Youth Soccer Club at the age of 8. Splitting time between the Richmond United Academy and D.C. United Academy, he trained with the Kickers pro team during the 2015 season and featured in the exhibition match against the English Premier League’s West Bromwich Albion as a 15-year old before earning an invitation to U.S. Soccer’s residency program at IMG Academy in Bradenton, FL in January 2016.

The FIFA U17 World Cup will be played in six cities across India: Kochi, Goa, Navi Mumbai, New Delhi, Guwahati, and Kolkata. A total of 24 countries participate in the tournament with the top two teams from each of the six groups, as well as the four best third-place teams, advance to the Round of 16 on October 16, 17, and 18. The championship and third-place matches take place Saturday, Oct. 28, at the 66,600-capacity Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan Stadium in Kolkata.

Attendance Record In Sight

RICHMOND, VA – (Wednesday, September 27, 2017) – Following last Saturday’s attendance of 5,969, the Richmond Kickers are primed to break last year’s then-record attendance average at their 25th Anniversary home finale this Sunday, October 1 at City Stadium. Currently averaging 4,531 fans per game, the Kickers need an attendance of 5,000 at this Sunday’s game to bring the average per game attendance to an unprecedented 4,557, which would be an increase of 13% over 2016 and a 71% increase since 2013.

“Pre-sale for Sunday’s game is at an all-time high and the club is looking forward to the occasion immensely,” commented Leigh Cowlishaw, Richmond Kickers Director of Soccer. “It’s going be a great night and we are committed to making our home finale an exceptional entertainment experience for all our supporters. The team would love nothing more than to finish our 25th Anniversary season in style. The players are extremely motivated to reward our fantastic fanbase with an entertaining game and one more Kickers win at City Stadium.”

Highlights from the club’s Silver Anniversary season include breaking the single-game regular season record with 8,021 fans at the home opener in March, besting that attendance with the fourth consecutive English Premier League exhibition in July, as well as reaching new highs in ticket sales, sponsorship revenue and merchandise. The 2017 season also marked landmark achievements in broadcasting and a new 40-year lease agreement at City Stadium.

The Kickers return to City Stadium this Sunday, October 1 to prove that RVA is RED at the regular season home finale when they host Orlando City B at 5:00pm. Fans wearing red will receive a drink ticket included in the admission price when the party starts at 3:30pm with live music by The Hit List, RVA food trucks and more than 20 craft beers on tap. Tickets are on sale now at www.richmondkickers.com.

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